Flexible display device and method for controlling display

Abstract

An electronic device may comprise: a first housing including a first upper surface, a first lower surface, a first side, and a second side disposed opposite the first side; a second housing including a third side and a second upper surface; a connecting member for connecting the first housing and the second housing to be rotatable; a first window extending from the first upper surface to the first side and formed of a first material; a second window extending from the first lower surface of the first housing to the second upper surface and formed of a second material; and a flexible display mounted in the first housing and the second housing and mounted along the first window and the second window.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a first housing comprising a first upper surface, a first lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface disposed at the opposite side of the first side surface; 
 a second housing comprising a third side surface and a second upper surface; 
 a connection member configured to rotatably connect the first housing and the second housing; 
 a first window formed with the first upper surface and made of a first material; 
 a second window extended from the first lower surface to the second upper surface and made of a second material, the second window being foldable; and 
 a flexible display mounted in the first housing and the second housing, wherein the flexible display is extended from the first window to the second window and a screen output from the flexible display is viewable through at least one of the first window and the second window, 
 wherein at least part of the first housing including the first side surface abuts both the first window and the second window and the at least part of the first housing includes an opaque region, and 
 wherein the first material is different from and harder than the second material. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is harder than the second material. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises plastic or glass, and the second material comprises a film. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a partial area of the second window corresponding to a connection area of the second side surface and the third side surface is folded according to a rotation of the first housing and the second housing by the connection member. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a plane of the first window is positioned lower than that of the first housing. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein an area of the flexible display corresponding to the first side surface is fixed to a form bent to the outside to be mounted in the first side surface. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein an area of the flexible display corresponding to the second side surface and the third side surface is mounted in the first lower surface and the second upper surface so as to fold. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein, in at least a partial area of the first upper surface, a keyboard is mounted. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the connection member is integrally formed with the first housing or the second housing. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device has a folding state in which the first lower surface of the first housing and the second upper surface of the second housing are folded to face about the connection member or an unfolding state in which the first lower surface of the first housing and the second upper surface of the second housing are unfolded to position on a single plane. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, in a state in which the electronic device is folded, a flexible display area corresponding to the first upper surface and the first side surface is exposed to the outside. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, in a state in which the electronic device is folded, the electronic device is configured to activate a screen in at least a portion of a flexible display area corresponding to the first upper surface and to deactivate a screen in a flexible display area corresponding to the first lower surface and the second upper surface. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, in a state in which the electronic device is folded, the electronic device is configured to activate a flexible display area corresponding to the first side surface and to deactivate a flexible display area corresponding to the first lower surface and the second upper surface. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a single display driver circuit configured to drive the flexible display, wherein the display driver circuit comprises a gate driver and a source driver; and 
 a processor, wherein the processor is configured to activate a flexible display area corresponding to the first upper surface using the source driver and to deactivate a screen corresponding to the first lower surface and the second upper surface using the source driver. 
 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising a single display driver circuit configured to drive the flexible display,
 wherein the display driver circuit comprises a gate driver and a source driver, and 
 wherein the electronic device is configured to activate a screen in a flexible display area corresponding to the first upper surface and to deactivate a screen corresponding to the first lower surface and the second upper surface using the gate driver. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising a first display driver circuit and a second display driver circuit configured to drive the flexible display,
 wherein the electronic device is configured to activate a screen in a flexible display area corresponding to the first upper surface using the first display driver circuit, and 
 the electronic device is configured to deactivate a screen corresponding to the first lower surface and the second upper surface using the second display driver circuit. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the first display driver circuit is configured to activate a screen in a flexible display screen area corresponding to the first side surface. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device, comprising:
 a first housing comprising a first upper surface, a first side surface, and a first lower surface; 
 a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing and comprising a second upper surface; 
 a flexible display mounted to cover the first upper surface, the first lower surface, and the first side surface of the first housing and the second upper surface of the second housing; 
 a first window configured to cover a sub-area of the flexible display corresponding to the first upper surface and the first side surface of the first housing; and 
 a second window configured to cover a main area of the flexible display corresponding to the first lower surface of the first housing and the second upper surface of the second housing, wherein the second window is foldable, and a first material of the first window is different from and harder than a second material of the second window, 
 wherein at least part of the first housing including the first side surface abuts both the first window and the second window and the at least part of the first housing includes an opaque region, and 
 wherein the flexible display is extended from the first window to the second window and a screen output from the flexible display is viewable through at least one of the first window and the second window. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the sub-area and the main area are driven independently.